Sound-reproducing machine



W. T. BOVIE; souuo REPRODUCING MACH'lNE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27', 1920 1,41 1,472. Patehted Apr. 4, 1922.

and useful Improvements in Sound-Repro- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T. BOVIE, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF WALTER S. HUGHES, OF MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS SOUND-REPRODUCING MAGHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM T. Bovm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new ducing Machines; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as Wlll enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to sound reproducing machines and more particularly to such machines employed in connection with the transcribing of dictation into typewritten form.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that in employing such machines the d10- tation is first recorded upon a record memher which is then employed to reproduce the dictation to a person operating a typewriter. It is frequently necessary to correct and change the dictation, and, in order to indicate these changes to the person operating the typewriter, it is customary to employ an indicator member which has been previously marked at designated points by the dictator. This indicator member is then operated in conjunction with the reproduction of the dictation to indicate to the stenographer that a correction or change has been made at that point.

The obvious disadvantage of this construction is that the indicator is located upon the reproducing machine, and in consequence cannot be conveniently observed by the stenographer operating the typewriter.

It is the object of the present invention then to provide some form of indication denoting the point at which changes in the dictation occur which shall automatically indicate the correction point to the stenographer without the necessity of watching 'the indicator strip upon the reproducing machine.

With this object in view, the principal feature of the invention contemplates the provision of an indicator which is automatically actuated when each point of correc tion in the sound recording member is reached. In the simplest and most eflicient form of the invention which has yet been devised, this indicator comprises a li ht located upon the typewriter, or adjacent thereto, and included in an electric circuit inder, it is customary and which permits the entire attention of v the stenographer to be concentrated at other times upon the keyboard of the typewriter. Still further features of the invention con sist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled inthe art from the following description:

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a well known form of reproducing machine embodying the improved indi cating mechanism, and Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating the mechanism for preparing the indicator strips.

.The illustrated embodiment of the invention is employed in conjunction with that type of machine employing a cylinder upon which the dictation is initially recorded. The record impression is formed upon the cylinder by a needle mounted in a head which is caused to traverse lengthwise of the rotating cylinder and record the sounds thereon. After the record has been completed, the cylinder is preferably transferred to a second machine which reproduces the dictation to the stenographer for transcribing upon the typewriter. When initially recording the dictation upon the cylto employ an indicating strip upon which is noted the various points at which corrections or changes are made in the dictation. This indicating strip is then used by the stenographer to locate the correction points. As stated previously, however, this method of indicating corrections is objectionable as it tends to distract the attention of the stenographer from the keyboard of the machine, and furthermore it is not unusual for the stenographer in transcribing the dictation to overlook the correction ;point which necessitates the res writing of the page.

The drawings illustrate part of a well known type of reproducing machine comprising a base portion 10 with a standard 11 formed upon one end and a rotating cylinder carrier 13 which is adapted to receive and supportthe record cylinder 15. (0- operating with the cylinder is a sound reproducer 1? carried upon the end of an arm 18 which is actuated to traverse the reproducer lengthwise ot' the rotating cylinder and reproduce the dictation in the usual manner. The machine is preferably provided with a head member (not'shown) which is connected with the reproducer through a flexible sound tube 20.

This machine is ordinarily located at one side of the typewriter upon which the dictation is transcribed and in order that the stenographer may be instantly apprised of a change in the dictation. it is essential that some form of indicator be provided. For this purpose, the present invention employs an indicator strip 25 which is supported upon a table 26 in a predetermined position with relation to the rotating cylinder 15. This location is secured by a series of pins 27 which engage with openings formed in the strip to locate the latter accuratelywith relation to the length of the cylinder.

The strip 25 has been previously'marked throughout its length to denote the several correction points upon the cylinder and these markings upon the strip are employed to control the actuation of an indicator member located in convenient relation to the operator. As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 1, the strip 25 is provided with perforations or notches 29 indicating correction points. (lo-operating with the paper strip 25 is a contact member 80 connected to the reproducer 17 through an arm 31. This cont-act member is provided with a tip 32 adapted to drop into the perforation 29 When the contact member in its travel registers therewith and close the electric circuit through engagement with the face of the metal table 26. The table is insulated from the base 10 of the machine through washers 35 of insulating material enclosed between the table and the base as indicated in Fig. 1. The leads of the electric circuit are connected with the machine through terminal posts 37 and 38 mounted respectively upon the table and the base 10.

When the contact member registers with one of the perforations on the indicator strip, the circuit is closed between the terminals 37 and 38 through the table 26 and the metallic portions of the machine. Located in the indicator circuit is a small indicator lamp 40 which is preferably mounted upon the keyboard of the typewriter and which is adapted to illuminate upon the closing of the circuit through a suitable source of energy, as. for example. a battery 41. \Vith this construction, when the reproducing arm, during its traversing movement lengthwise of the record cylinder, reaches a correct-ion point. the contact member then registers with a previously formed perforation in the indicator strip 25 closing the electric circuit and instantly operating the indicator it) to apprise the stenographer of a change in the dictation.

The indicator strip. as has been stated heretofore, is prepared by the dictator and this perforation is conveniently accomplished in the present invention by the mechanism indicated in Fig. 2. This mechanism comprises a supporting stand 56 which is mounted upon the base. of the recording machine in the same relative position to the rotating cylinder as thetable 26. This stand carries the indicator strip 25 held between two clamping strips 52 with the edge projecting as indicated. The strip is held in the same predetermined relation to the record cylinder as in the reproducing machine through locating pins 54 which engage with the previously formed openings in the back edge of the strip. Co-operating with the strip is a punch member comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spring arms 55 and 56 supported upon the traveling head 58 which traverses the record cylinder to record the dictation. This traveling head has the same movement as the reproducer so that a perforation formed upon the strip 25 at any given position of the head 58 will indicate the same point upon the record cylinder 15 when inserted in the reproducing machine. As will be observed from an inspection of Fig. 2, the spring arm 56 carries a punching die 60 which is adapted to form a wedgeshaped perforation in the edge of the strip 25 when the spring arms are moved together. In actual operation, when the operator desires to indicate a correction point, the head 58 is stopped at this point and a perforation 29 formed in the edge of the strip. When the record upon a single cylinder has been completed, the cylinder, together with the indicator strip, is transferred to the reproducing machine and thereafter the indicator 40 will automatically mark the correction points in the record cylinder.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims, and may be changed or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A sound reproducing machine comprising a rotating record member, a reproducer adapted to traverse the record member. a. previously perforated indicator strip of insulating material. means for detachably lothe indicator when the contact encounters one of the perforations in the indicator strip.

2. A sound reproducing machine comprising a rotating record member, a reproducer adapted to traverse the member, a metallic support, a previously perforated indicator strip of thin insulating material, means for detachably locating the indicator strip upon the metallic support in a predetermined relation with respect to the reproducer, a contact cooperating with the indicator strip, means for relatively moving the contact and strip in synchronism with the movement of the reproducer, an indicator, and an electric circuit including the contact, metallic support and indicator and adapted to actuate the indicator when closed by engagement of the contactwith the metallic support through one of the perforations in the indicator strip.

3. A sound reproducing machine comprising a rotating record cylinder, a reproducer adapted to traverse lengthwise of the surface of the record cylinder, a metallic support, a paper indicator strip detachably held upon the metallic support in a-predetermined relation to the record member and having previously formed perforations therein, a contact member connected to the reproducer and adapted to move therewith across the perforated surface of the paper strip, an indicator member, and an electric circuit including the indicator member, metallic support and contact member and adapted to be closed through the contact member and metallic support to operate the indicator when the contact member registers with one of the perforations in the )aper strip.

ILLIAM T. BOVIE. 

